RUSSIA: The Mainsprings of Russiaby Maurice Baring. 1914. 328p The Russian peasant has been a crucial part of society for centuries, transitioning from serfdom to emancipation and communal land ownership to individual property rights. Reforms in the 19th and 20th centuries have empowered peasants to become independent landowners and farmers. With access to capital and education, peasants are on the path to owning the land they work on, leading to increased agricultural productivity.